Debt chasers are giving more than 2,000 householders in Castle Morpeth a red letter day.

With the new financial year less than a month old, reminder letters are already beginning to be sent out as part of a new drive to push down the amount of council tax owed to the council.

Coun David Parker, the council's finance spokesman, said: "While the council is aware the issuing of reminders during the first month of the billing period could be construed as unnecessarily overzealous, it is because we are aware of our responsibility towards the vast majority of taxpayers who pay their instalments promptly."